Dan Plummer, president of the Gallery by the Lake, was busy getting the group’s new workroom set up Tuesday. The Gallery is just one of the tenants who started moving back into the newly repaired Central School Arts & Humanities Center last month. The school was closed after the 2020 hurricanes caused roof and interior damage, displacing tenants who had studios and/or office space there.

Artists will generally find a place to create, no matter their surroundings; however, as Plummer pointed out, the natural light streaming in through rows of Central School’s eight-foot windows into the Gallery’s new work room, is definitely a plus.

The great light is only one of the benefits of studio and office space. Walls are thick. Floors are hardwood. Ceilings are high. The space is tranquil and airy. That’s the way things were done when the building was constructed in 1912 by noted New Orleans architects Favrot & Livaudais.

Restoration on the two-story space took an extra level of care, according to Mayor Nic Hunter.

“It is critical that we preserve the historical elements that make Central School special,” he said, “while restoring in a manner that adds to its resiliency to allow future generations the ability to walk these historic halls.”

Repairs from Hurricane Laura and Delta totaled about $4.8 million. The city expects FEMA reimbursement for those repair costs.

The Arts and Humanities Council oversees day-to-day operations at Central School through a cooperative endeavor agreement with the city of Lake Charles. The new executive director is Shawna Nile Batchelor, who is a Lake Charles native with a winning combination of experience in art, business, nonprofits and French language, arts and culture.

Central School Tenant Beth Dawdy, executive director of Lake Charles Symphony, calls the architecture of Central School “stunning,” and looks forward to using the newly refurbished auditorium, as does the Lake Charles Little Theatre.

Central School is also home to photographers and other visual artists, costumers, museums, sewing instructors, bands, music teachers, ballroom dancing teachers and festival producers.

Batchelor said that in the future, the Arts and Humanities Council might focus on workshops that help creative types with business ventures, as well as its other events. But in the case of an exhibit, no nails or tacks will go into those pristine walls. Displays will require a new wall-hanging system.

In the past, Black Heritage Gallery and Gallery by the Lake had exhibit space at Central School. Now, those groups’ exhibits will be at the 1911 Historic City Hall.

The city of Lake Charles owns and maintains the school. Much of the funding comes from a riverboat gaming fund and “Friends of Central School,” a nonprofit that has occasionally helped with upgrades. There is also a Chad Thielen Memorial Fund that helps maintain the grounds of the school.

Friends of Central School announced plans to contribute funding to a new Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana account to ensure Central School and Historic City Hall continue to be preserved.

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Central School is located at 809 Kirby St. For information on becoming a tenant, call (337) 439-2787. To learn more about the Community Foundation of SWLA and its newly established fund for the school, call (337) 491-6688 or visit www.foundaitonswla.org.